Senior Spotlight — Truc Dao

Truc Dao, a senior at South High School, said getting involved in student groups in high school helped bring her out of her shell and find her passion.

“When I got involved in Student Leadership, it allowed me to spread my wings,” she said. “I love getting involved and giving back to the community that shaped me.”

“I was so shy and I wouldn’t talk to anyone when I was a freshman. Now I get to be a leader and I’m confident talking in front of people.”

One of Dao’s major focuses is advocating for student mental health.

“My main priority is to help people ease back into returning to normal life after COVID and help them have joy in doing things again.”

She admits that getting involved in so many projects can be tiring, but she loves the feeling of accomplishment when the work is finished. She was a recipient of the Aaron Joel Smith Memorial Youth Volunteer Scholarship from the United Way for her volunteerism.

Dao plans to study medicine to become a pediatrician. While she is excited for the next chapter of her life, she will miss high school.

“I love South High. I can talk about how wonderful the teachers are all day long. They all make you feel welcome and they care about you.”